El Burro - May 1972 - Volume 33 Number 2

'Page Two'

It is a bad year for the "ins." That is a fairly safe zsumption when applied to Texas state politics. It may prove valid applied even on the larger, national scale_ But at any rate, the stench of Sharpstown still taints many Texas politicos.

Saturday's primaries are (is it really needless to say?) very important. One of the reasons is that they offer the first test of the voting strength of new 18 to 21 year old voters. Liberalized changes in the election code have encouraged more people to register. It is important that they vote.

One of the criticisms sometimes made of the party system is that it allows one to vote only for one of several pre-selected candidates To a certain extent it is a valid criticism and does apply. However, it is not much of an excuse for staying away from the polls. In many races this year, there are candidates who do offer a choice. Even if they do not win, a strong vote for them among young voters will serve notice on the old pols of what they may expect when we select the candidates.

It also strengthens the hand of those young politicians who even now negotiate to get candidates to our liking on the ballot. Politics is not a once-~year at-the-polling-place affair, but we owe itto those who work at it for us to extend them our support once a year at the polling place. Better make that twice a year, since there will be a general election of some importance this fall. But if you do not vote in the primary, where there is some choice (at least this year,) do not complain too loudly about the lack of choice in the general election.

EL BURRO endorses the following candidates in the May 6 Democratic Party primary No endorsements of Republican candidates will be made, but voters are reminded that there is also a GOP primary on May 6. The candidate listed first and in bold print receives the EL BURRO endorsement.

U.S. SENATOR Ralph Yarborough. Yarborough 's list of accomplishments is perhaps the best indication of his interests. He was either author or principal cosponsor of: the National Defense Education Act of 1958, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the Cold War GI Bill, and the first Bilingual Education Bill ever introduced in Congress. He rewrote and passed over Nixon's veto an expansion and reform of the Hill-Burton Act, which provides money for hospital construction. He also authored health programs to provide migrant health care, to establish regional mental health centers and to expand schools of public health. The best thing he has going for him is Nixon's opposition to him.

Also running-Barefoot Sanders, Thomas Cartlidge, Alfonso Veloz, Hugh Wilson.

GOVERNOR - Frances Farenthold. "Cissy" has been called the "den mother" of the "dirty thirty." She was one of 14 to vote against the Sharpstown Banking Bill of 1969. She has proposed legislation to have all testimony before legislative committees recorded to be available to the people of Texas. She was one of 12 legislators to vote against restrictions on free speech on college campuses in 1969 She is in favor of placing students on the Boards of Regents of Texas universities. She opposed requirements of minimum teaching loads for college teachers and ariy increase in tuition at state colleges and universities. She voted for a corporate profits tax and against increas es in consumer t a x es She is

in favor of the establishment of day-care centers for children of working mothers. She sponsored legislation cre ating a Public Utilities Commission for the state. She favors removal of the spending ceiling on aid to dependent children. Those are a few of the reasons why "Cissy" should be governor.

Also running-Dolph Briscoe, Ben Barnes, Preston Smith, Robert Everett Looney , William J Posey and Gordon F. Wills

LIEUTENANT GOV . -JOE CHRISTIE. There is a reason why El Paso is so solidly behind Joe Christie He was first elected to the State Senate in 1966, carrying every precinct in El Paso County He was re-elected without opposition in 1968 He is a strong supporter of legislative reform. He advocates limiting conference committees to resolving the differences between the houses and streamlining the Senate committee structure. He has supported every major education measure and has placed special emphasis on vocational-technical training. He pushed through a bill in the last legislature to regulate private business and trade schools. He was the author of the Insurance Holding Company Act, which has been termed "the most important insurance legislation in the past 40 years." He is probably best known for his statewide battle to legalize the local option sale of mixed drinks. He has received the endorsements of many "liberal" groups in the state, but has not alienated his moderate support. He voted against the food tax in special session and for a corporate profits ·tax. He backed a minimum wage law for Texas. He advocates placing students on governing boards of state-supported institutions. Christie is a hard worker and would be a most refreshing change from the hacks who now dominate state government.

Also running-Bill Hobby, Ralph Hall, Wayne Connally, Bill Jones, Robert McCord, Troy Skates and John Armstrong Stand lea.

ATTORNEY GENERAL - John Hill. John Hill is running very much against the present attorney general, Crawford Martin. Martin is seeking a fourth term. In his previous three terms he has : appealed the original bill passed by the U.S. Congress giving I 8-20 year olds the right to vote in federal elections; ruled that I 8-20 year olds are not eligible for jury duty in Texas; prosecuted a case which would deny college students the right to vote in the county where they attend school. Hill has linked Martin to the Sharpstown stock scandal. In contrast, Hill pledges a "positive plan of action." He favors creation of regional offices of the attorney general to insure adequate investigation and prosecution of environmental polluters and to aid in consumer protection. He will push for stronger ethics laws for all state officials . He will

work with the legislature to avoid the passage of unconstitutional legislation. He supports revision of the state constitution, judicial redistricting and reform of correctional institutions and juvenile court and probation procedures. It is about time the people of Texas had a lawyer.

Also running - William Pate and Crawford Martin.

Commissioner of Agriculture - John C. White. He lost a close vote for chairman of the State Democratic Executive Committee. He is an advocate of an open and progressive party, and in Texas that is almost enough by itself.

Also running - Carl Bell.

State Senate, 29th District - Paul Moreno. El Paso's one and only "dirty thirty" member, Moreno has been criticized for his efforts against the Democratic establishment in Texas. He rather deserves our praise and support. Moreno is fighting an uphill battle against a lot more money. His progressive stance and courage for his ideals merit your vote.

Also running - Wayne Windle, Tom Niland, Tati Santiesteban, and Frank Owen III.

State Representative, place two - Jose Medina. Also running - Charles Tupper, Jr. and Joe Weissmiller.

State Representative, place four - Luther Jones. Also running - Juan Stockmeyer, Joe Muirhead, Dan Armstrong and James Crook.

County tax assessor-collector - Len Bailes. Bailes promises something different for El Paso Countyan enthusiastic and efficient administrator. Also running - Nick Perez, John Bowen, Ray Elliott and Charlie Terrazas.

County Attorney - Paul Caruthers. I am inclined to agree that El Paso needs a full-time county attorney. Also running.- George Rodriguez.

County Democratic chairman Colbert Coldwell. Also running - Larry Mathews.

In races where no candidates are endorsed, we feel our readers are as capable of flipping a coin as we are. The dearth of good candidates in some races, especially for state representative, is distressing, _ GOP candidates for governor are: Henry Grover, David Reagan, Thomas McElroy, Albert Fay, Joseph Jenkins and John Hall.

Constable races are a good place to vote for a friend, especially if you expect to be served with an eviction notice sometime after the election.

Remember to participate in your precinct convention this Saturday. It is especially necessary for McGovern supporters to build this sort of grassroots support if he is to capture any convention delegates from Texas. We hope he does.

EL BURRO VOL. XXXIII, NO. 2 MAY, 1972

COVER: Just as the cover of the last El BURRO was basically irrelevant to its contents, so, in that same great tradition of journalism, we feature another irrelevant photo classic. But then, the picture is about students, and so is this El BURRO. Our photo spread on pages four and five show students at work and play. We highlight an article on page three concerning stu dents' special emotional problems. On page eight we offer encouragement to become involved in politics this year, and especially this Saturday. Cover photo by lance Murray.

El BURRO is the variety magazine of the University of Texas at El Paso. It is published by Student Publications, U.T. El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968. Reproduction in whole or part of any article without prior written perm1ss1on is prohibited. Opinions expressed in this magazine are (obviously) not necessarily those of the University of Texas at El Pa~, its administration, faculty, staff or students. Letters to the Editor and contributions may be delivered to the El BURRO office, 204-West Union. We reserve the right to accept (and edit) any material submitted for publication in EL BURRO. We cannot assume responsibility for unsolicited material.

STAFF: Editor-in-chief--Martin Wilson; Managing Editor--Frank Merriman; Head Photographer--Lance Murray. Thanks to our contributors.

The Ivy-Covered Padded

E01otional

Proble01s In The University ·

by Frank Merriman

Suicide is the third leading jiller among college students today, behind accidental death and cancer, according to Dr. Philip Himelstein, professor of psychology at U.T El Paso. This fact is somewhat misleading because on the average we have less than one suicide a year. Sadly, that figure was reached just last month when a student jumped to her death from the sun deck of Kelly Hall.

What it does show, however, is that the university environment contains unique pressures for its student population Most students can cope with these pressures with a minimum of strain, but for many others, these pressures can cause anything from minor fn.istrations to intense depressions and , occasionally, suicide. Causes are as varied as the student body itself

"Some of the more common problems," said Himelstein," KEITH TUCKER _ Director of the Counseling "are sexual adjustments, career adjustments, and the stress ·Center Tucker was recently given notice that he of achieving adult status." Every person goes through these Id· b I ed ft th" D G wou e rep ac a er 1s summer. r. ary periods, he explained, but the demands of a university •B k "d f d ff • h t • t t t h • th roo s, vice pres, ent or stu ent a airs, opes o envtronmen pu grea er emp asts on em.

"Students who are away from home for the first time find achieve a closer working relationship between the it stressful trying to be self-supporting after the prolonged Department of Educational Psychology and dependency they left at home," he said Guidance and the Counseling Center. Photo by

Counseling Center sponsors the s,-oups and helps train the group leaders, it is basically run by student volun1eers.

Tucker and his two counseling assistants, Mary Sue Cole and Joe Avila take charge of actual s,-oup counseling sessions and individual counseling.

"Counseling groups vary from e91t to twelve people," Tucker said, "and are composed of individuals who need to work at much deeper kinds of socialization problems. such as those who don't know hOIN to relate to people. They are withdrawn "

After several counseling 5eS'Sions these individuals may be integrated into I-groups to develop more confidence.

The Counseling Center handles about 140 students a month in all phases of pros,-amming, about double the number seen when Tucker began two years ago.

The Counseling Center is attempting to solve one big problem - contacting students who need help. "Many of those we get here are referrals," Tucker explained, "from students who come here, students who work · in the dorms, faculty, staff and outside agencies."

The biggest asset they have h<1Never, is the student counseling program.

"Students are able to help other students to a real

Some fields of study are also sources of stress. Vernon Miller. degree," Tucker said. "There is a point lhey need "liberal arts students that are in an unstructured program problems. supervis"ion, which is where my staff and I come in. But the as it relates to a career begin to wonder if it's all "When this occurs," he warned, "there are usually some emphasis should be the importance of students con1acting worthwhile," explained Himelstein. underlying problems bothering him." other students."

When this occurs, the student may show signs of All too often, when these problems go unnoticed and Dr. Spier agrees that trained student help would be inefficiency in studying, loss of motivation, and eventually untreated, the student seeks his own answer. All too often invaluable to assist the limited professional counselors. may drop out of school. this answer is drugs.

"Para-mental health workers are the answer to fill the

"I know one girl," he said, "who goes to class until the "The use of drugs represents an attempt to relieve the gap," Spier said. "A well-supervised program can be useful in first test. At that point the strain gets too great for her and pressures of the grind," said Himelstein, "the tedium of filling a need for highly specialized mental health wt111cers." she drops out. The next semester she signs up for classes school."

He termed them the "front-line workers of the whole mental again and starts the whole process over again."

The extent of the use of drugs on the U.T El Paso health problem. Peer group contact is the best way to get Dr. Himelstein does feel the problems here are not as campus is subject to debate, but most authorities agree it is through to many students with problems." great as at other universities. fairly extensive.

A new program designed to reach more of the student

"Other campuses have higher rates of suicide and mental "To what extent drugs are used is difficult to ascertain," body is Connection, headed by sophomore psychology disorders because the pressures are greater," he said. "The explained Spier." About the only way we can get a record of major John Klumb. Connection at this time is similar to the better the school is, the more the student is expected to do who is using them is when someone is arrested, or gets so Hotline program. It "lends an immediate sympathetic ear" to be successful. Another reason is our predominance of a sick they have to be taken to a doctor, or someone di~s." to students with problems. It operates three phones on transient population which allows most students to leave the He believes students are more likely to use drugs due to campus, one in the Counseling Center and two in the Health problems and pressures of the university behind them most peer pressures than are non-students. Service. Volunteers handle calls until midnight of the day."

"Non-students have a wider range of contacts and Sunday-Thursday, and until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Dr. Curtis Spier is a psychiatrist employed as a psychiatric therefore aren't influenced as much as a student who has

"We work with 22 volunteers and myself," explained consultant four hours a week by the university. He divides limited contacts," Spier said. Klumb. "At this time we are geared mainly to phone calls his time between the Health Service, where he does Marijuana use is considered to be remaining at a steady and therefore our volunteers are trained mainly in listening counseling, and the Counseling Center, where he works in rate at this time, while the use of other drugs is beginning to techniques. However, we do handle walk-ins on a limited conjunction with its three counselors, helping to improve decline. basis." techniques and giving assistance. A large part of his work is "This is due to several reasons," Spier explained. "Many Klumb said he hoped to expand in financing, facilities and with "crisis" problems. people recognize that hard drugs are the most dangerous. training this fall so services can be increased.

" 'Crisis' problems are those which are of short duration, Most users know heroin and speed will kill and stay away "We want to have it so anybody with a problem can just but intense enough to disrupt the •student's usual from them like the plague." walk in and get help," he said. performance on campus," Spier said.

He also attributed the lessening use of drugs to the Jesus "A program such as Connection may be the kind of These include such things as panic of failing, concern over movement sweeping college campuses and youth's in-between measure we need," said Spier, "to aid students draft status or the difficulties of dorm life realization that "they aren't getting out of drugs what they getting a push in the right direction and for short term crisis

"These usually lend themselves well to short term therapy expected and are switching." situations." or counseling," he said, "but if these fears persist, we have The job of attempting to cope with these problems has There seems to be a consensus that what services U.T. El to refer them out to professional agencies because we aren't fallen on the small Counseling Center and Keith Tucker, its Paso does provide aren't enough. equipped to handle them here." director for two years.

"Three counselors for 11,000 students just doesn't get

Spier said one major problem many students face at one "Basically,'' explained Tucker, "we start where academic it," said Tucker. time or another is trying to establish an identity and counseling leaves off. We are equipped to work mainly with Dr. Himelstein maintains the Counseling Center is independence which is unique in a university structure. problems of academic and vocational choice." oriented too much toward vocational help to meet mental "How a student reacts," he explained, "is dependent on Tucker said these ranged from students who can't listen problems. He feels the university should have a clinic for his personality traits. But in general, in a university there is or study to "pretty heavy emotional problems." In the latter mental health problems with a full clinical team composed the tendency to feel lost. The student feels like 'just another cases, the center consults with Dr. Spier and tries to work of psychologists, psychiatrists, and trained social workers. bee in the hive,' so to speak. They see alienation and the student into a program over a period of time. The "As it stands, now,'' he said, "Dr. Spier can't possibly impersonalization. Some people aren't suited to this and can Counseling Center operates several permarient programs. meet our needs." become depressed to the point of suicidal." I-groups are opportunities for students to sharpen their Dr. Spier agreed, pointing out that student health is a Spier said many times students with these types of mental skills at relating to other people. Tucker emphasized that the specialty in itself. problems will appear repeatedly at someplace that appears I-groups are not counseling groups, but an "outreach for helpful, such as at the Health Service- complaining of minor social communication and feedback." ailments, or to a particular professor with a series of minor Each group consists of eight to 14 people, and though the

Spring is a

One Week In Spring

Photographers ·Look At Campus Scenes

Recently a symposium on the Idea of the University was held. Dr. Joseph R. Smiley, U.T. El Paso President, was the moderator. Some speakers don't draw

but when a political theorist, such as England's George Catlin spoke, one could not find a seat. crowds

Layout by Lance Murray

Photography by Lance Murray and Valerie Enriquez

"If you elect me, I promise to bring back rag time dancing. Here, let me demonstrate." Actually Democrat Ralph Yarborough is shown giving a political speech on the Union Mall April 27.

It appears Tommy Lyons, freshman engineering major, has found a new friend. In • case one can't tell, Lyons is on the left.

Seniors--What 's Around the Corner ?

The Final Cry of Anguish

Fiction by Joseph delta Malva

The tall, muscular uniformed police captain looked over the rubble in the room - overturned tables and chairs, propaganda leaflets in disarray on the floor, a mimeograph machine fallen on its side and damaged, and the cache of weapons, only slightly disturbed and standing in a corner : automatic rifle~. handguns, ammunition and materials for explosives.

And the four dead.

The four dead victims of the police raid, one a girl no more than nineteen, lying grotesquely on the floor or slumped against the overturned furniture.

The captain muttered the vilest derogatory racial slur, that came to his mind, toward the four lifeless bodies. Skin color he detested.

But it was followed by an inaudible grunt of satisfaction. The victims really had been surprised by the suddenness of the police raid. Only one of them - the youth still wearing his beret - had been able to reach for a rifle and fire several shots before he was gunned down by the heavy caliber police bullets.

Anger swelled in the captain as he looked again at the four bodies. The beret - that damned, arrogant symbol of Racial Pride! It was splattered with blood, too, from the gaping, fatal wound in the militant's head

Police bullets also had ripped into the posters and the obscene slogans on the walls - posters and slogans insulting the society against which these punks rebelled with screaming, disorderly demonstrations, bombings and wanton killings.

The police photographer was just finishing up his work: the inevitable picture-taking of crumpled, shattered bodies that followed all these violent raids against the militants.

It never seemed to end. Knock

out a headquarters in one ratty place, and another pops up somewhere else.

Now the bodies were being covered being readied for removal to the morgue. But the captain stopped the covering of the girl until he could remove, from her clenched fist, a crinkled sheet of papE:,· he had spotted. He bent open the still warm fingers, removed the paper , spread it flat in his palm, and started to read.

The handwriting was steady and firm. After the first sentence, the captain knew it was all predictable crap Predictable rhetoric, boring in its sameness : pride of race, the call to action against the outrageous oppressors, the strident call for freedom - the word heavily underlined and repeated Then there were all the other sentences and phrases in the liturgy of revolutionaries - especially of the

racially obsessed violators of decent society.

The sameness of the words: justice, equality, immediate release from poverty, opportunity, education, human dignity, the severance of bondage from the savage establishment

But then the captain noted a rambling that W<E different - a rambling that had poured from the girl's mind faster than her hand could write

The sentences were short and jerky Barely legible. But the message was clear It was tormentingly personal. It W<E a cry of despair

"Oh, God! Do you exist? Are you there? I hate you! Can you hear me? I hate you for your evil mockery!"

Then the final cry of anguish : "Oh, God! Why did you create me WH-ITE!"

The Desert Seen

by Vernon Miller

Emotional Problems

Cont., from p. 3

Fiction by Glenn T.

The old man sat on an unupholstered couch. From his mouth hung an ancient pipe out of which emitted an acrid odor. His face bore the stamp of many a hard yesterday. The child in the cradle beside him garbled in its sleep. Memories broke from their chains of time and were free to dance about in the old man's mind. Often they weren't too careful where they stepped for an occasional tear would blur his vision, but the face's grave countenance was never broken. His watery eyes turned toward the baby but were focused far into the past. His mind spoke.

"So, kid, you're just starting out. For your sake I wish I could say I envied you. No, I can't say that I'm envious and be completely honest because I know where you're going to be in a few years. You can't even raise your head yet to look out this window, but I've been out there. I must admit it wasn't all bad. There were those times when my only concern was which game to play next. That was before realized it's all a game Also there were those joyous times. I'll never forget the twinkle in a pretty girl's eye or the security that comes from the knowledge that I put the twinkle there. It's also impossible not to remember the terrible emptiness which replaces her after she's gone. Emptiness - that's too mild a word. It's more like the hold me had on your heart was so strong that when she left she tore it from your body."

"Sometimes I've wished I were a rock. I could then only be erosioned away by nature. As a person, worry has beaten against my forehead setting in deep furrows. Loneliness chipped away at my heart paining me greatly. Once in a while someone special, a friend or lover, has passed my way and briefly replaced all that life has torn away. They too disappeared, leaving a great gap where once dwelled happiness I've cried and the world called it immaturity ; laughed and they called it foolishness; did neither and they called me a stoic. Many a friend has met with worldly success and was forced to leave it all in this world. I'm lucky. I've never been a 'succe$$' so my pockets won't be weighing me down on my final journey. The minister says that everyone has to walk that last road to heaven by himself. That won't bother me any All my paths have been traveled alone anyway. I don't want to call them roads, paths will do. Roads are made to go someplace special. Paths are created by individualists. I was never special or going anywhere in particular. I guess I just lied to you kid. I never traveled alone. Not even down the most desolate path was I ever alone. Some out there are going to tell you that God is dead; if He is I would be too, for chances are that I would have died of loneliness long ago. I tried to keep God in me, · not just all around."

"I suppose if I'm still around when you get older I'll be expected to give you advice. I don't think I'll do too much of that. Chances are even if I did you won't heed me and would wind up going your own way anyway. You won't believe the fire's hot 'til you've been burned a few times. It's all just some of the rules we go by."

The old man came back to reality by taking the pipe from his mouth, which had long since gone out, and dumping its

charred contents into an ashtray. Then as he stood to go

check on the reason for the child's shrieking his feeble vocal cords emitted a brief creed of all grey heads and wrinkled brows. "God took the glory of the sun, the dreariness of a rainy day, the nothingness of the sky and breathed it into each of us. We labeled it 'Life'."

myltfe 011 muder ihtefld "'" I ;:µth to ,YQ« '11lff ask why

l'tldie for OU

The problems and pressures of the university are known

"The American College Health Association W<E formed students and not the professional help ideally needed now. because of the recognized unique nature of college health It would be wishful speculation to assume that last problems,'' he said. "We need more than a half-time month's suicide was the result of the pressures of school psychiatrist on this campus. What we should have is a alone. The fact is that this student didn't seek help, and full-time staff which can relate to students' problems and today's programs aren't efficient enough and don't have the promote better understanding and cooperation between the manpower to pinpoint and pursue all those in need of help. students and staff personnel."

An attempt at increased service comes this summer with all too well. How long before another student, needing help closer cooperation between the Department of Educational but not getting it, decides to further increase that already Psychology and Guidance and the Counseling Center, frightening suicide statistic? though this basically will be experience for education

o she we:,tttehtnocm And lnck-ed,,tlt door

Amt played her fqJorileJOfft "MUk bi'!!'! ,IQ keep (1911~"1& Nd, ··• the i/tiin«e dbrre. • 'he ,la.shed hn ~tf.t; 1969

QUE DIFERENTE

mira el cielo nub/ado ?oyes el cielo tronar? todo esto es solo por dentro en tu pensar, el cielo es azul y claro y be/lo, si quieres llorar no le sigas hechando la culpa al tiempo o al lugar, la tristeza la trais nadando en tu propio mar y se me hace que el porque estas asi te voy a adivinar, es claro, estas lejos de tu sol y te sientes nublar

muerte pides a gritos y en muerte vas a acabar, si tu ma/ es seguir ausente de lo unico que vas a amar hasta que llegue oval/as tu tristeza se va a qumentar, dime si la comida mas sabrosa note sabe a ace"in dime si al suspirar tus suspiros no tienen fin. ?que diferente, verdad? el mundo, la gente, hate temblar saber que sin el/a ni si quiera una oracion puedes rezar.

- abelardo

SHOOTING GALLERY

it will be very interesting to contrast ( at the risk of giving up some rest) with the vitally timely book i'm now halfway pedagogy of the oppressed, will we be recipients of deposits of tidbits of intellectual mierda or will we make a gasping attempt to name the world, our world 1971 and its multiplicity of self created dilemmas? some ph d's sitting in front of us items on the menu, products empowered to speak to the peasantry, empowered, oddly enough by the consent of the peasantry who openly and secretly idolizes oppression, educational, economic, political and so i take a deep breath and hope god or the calendar allows me enough time to humbly find others in me and me in others and be liberated and liberate my brothers.

AB E L A R D 0

STUPID AMERICA

stupid america, see that chicano with a big knife on his steady hand he doesn't want to knife you he wants to sit on a bench and carve christfigures but you won't let him. stupid america, hear that chicano shouting curses on the street he is a poet without paper and pencil and since he cannot write he will explode. stupid america, remerr,ber that chicanito flunking math and english he is the picasso of your western states but he will die with one thousand masterpieces hanging only from his mind.

METAMORPHOSIS

my integration consists ( my, how the thought persists) of having kissed an anglo girl once, twice, a hundred times. my integration consists of having mamed an anglo girl ( ceremony was in latin tho) my integration consists of having once fiercely punched an anglo man once, twice, a hundred times. my integration consists of having once tried to understand an anglo 's colorless mind, my integration consists of having felt my gut hurt as if full of urine when I saw an anglo looking down at me. my integration consists ( and here i end all lists) of having become an anglo without having died

- abelardo and without having been born again, my integration and segregation are one and the same. MAYA 71 all of you, my carnales, are the anchor men in this historical raza relays we wish to end, the last lap is yours, we hand you the brown baton of justicia of cause a of huelga. we know, those of us, fathers, mothers, 'gue/itos, older brothers we did not run so well, we wish we had given you some delantera but the course was rough. the three laps we ran were these, this was our land, the land we toiled on the first lap but the gringos overtook us, the second lap was trying out the newly imposed ways of the white which led, we became their ill paid labor and rejects and we fell far behind, the third lap in which we ran was fighting distant wars in their name and there we started to close in to the point we could see them at the turn, now you run, see how you do, do not only try to catch up but run to win for there is no end to what you now begin.

How to Nominate a President

by Buddy Hicks

O ne of th e m ost confusing, and clo sed, aspects of American po liti cs h as, for many years, been the selection of delegates to national party conventions in states w hich do not hold a primary for that purpose This has been particularly true of Texas.

This confusicn and lack of universal rules has resulted in "boss" and "machine" politics in perhaps the most important of political exercises - the selection of the president. In these exercises the art of cheating has become such common practice that notice has hardly been paid even the most flagrant violations, until recent years.

The texts of entire precinct conventions have often been as follows:

''The convention will now com~ to order All in favor

0 f me as convention chairman say 'aye;' all opposed , 'no.' The 'ayes' have it.

All in favor of my set of delegates say ' aye;' all opposed, 'no.' The ' ayes' have i t

I will now entertain a motion to adjourn. All in favor, 'aye ;' all opposed, 'no.' The 'ayes' have i t We are adjourned ."

This is certainly not very democratic.

This type of practice has resulted in numerous challenges to delegations to the national conventions Principally in response to the challenges to the Texas and M i ssissipp i delegations at the 1968 Democratic Nat i onal Convention , the Democratic Party appo i nted a commissio n (the McGovern -Fraser Comm iss i on) to establish m in i mum standards for states to partic i pate in the nat i onal Democ r atic convention. One pa r t of t hose standards is the require men t that each state pub lish a set o f party rules that will ap p ly uniformly throughout the state.

As a result, the Texas State Democrat i c Ex ecut ive Committee adopted the fir st set of complete statewide party rules T exas has ever had. I t is on these rules that the r eform elements of the Texas Democratic Party base the i r hopes for

DEMOCRATIC PARTY RULES ARTICLE IV Party Conventions

Section 1. Precinct Conventions.

a.) Time and Place. (Editor's note: For reasons of space, this clause is omitted. All precinct conventions in El Paso will be held at 7: 15 p.m. at the polling place.)

b.) El i gib i li ty to Parti cip ate. Any qualified Democratic voter 18 years of age or older who resides in the precinct where the convention will be h~ld, and who meets statutory qualifications shall be eligible to attend; participate in, and be a candidate for any party office or for any delegate or alternate position to be filled at that convention.

c.) Order of Business. The precinct convention shall be governed. by the latest edition of Robert's Rules of Order.

I. Call to order by the precinct chairman (or in his absence, by any qualified participant.)

2. Preparation of a list of qualified participants who are present. The list shall includ~ the residence address witti town of each.

3. Election from among those present of a permanent chairman of the convention, a permanent secretary, and such other officers as may be necessary to conduct the business of the convention

4. Election of delegates and alternates to the county or senatorial district convention

5. Other business: committee reports, if any; resolut ions, etc.

6. Adjournment

d.) Duties of Convention Officers. The permanent chairman shall preside over the convention following his election and shall be responsible for appointing any convention committees as he deems necessary or as directed by the convention. He shall be responsible for seeing that an accurate record is kept of all convention proceedings, including the list of persons present and a list of delegates and alternates elected to the county or senatorial district

Editor's Note: EL BURRO here presents two f eatu re s o n this Saturday 's Dem ocratic Party primary Th e first is an article prepared by Buddy Hicks, treasurer of the El Paso Co unty Yo ung Democrats and a se nio r political science major at CJ. T E l Paso. He discusses the significan ce of the party 's new rules fo r participating in precinct conventions, and how these new rules can be used to greatest effectiveness. Below are direct excerpts from the party 's new rules governing precinct conventions.

EL · BURRO anticipates that most students participating in party politics this year will participate in the Democratic Party. That is why the Democratic Party mies are emphasized.

a fairer, more open state convention, and thus for a more representative delegation to the national convention from Texas

In the convention states, such as Texas, the idea of beginning the , convention process on the precinct level is that the delegates selected to attend the county convention will represent the pres idential preference of the local people. The delegates elected f r om the precinct conventions control delegate selection to the state convention.

The precinct convention, under the new rules, will be called to order at a u ni fo r m time and place in urban areas It will begin at 7:15 p.m on the day of the primary (this Saturday, May 6) .at the polling place in each El Paso precinct. All registe r ed voters who vote in the Democratic primary that day are el igi b l e to participate As the voters enter the conven t_i on they will be asked to sign their names, addresses and presidential preference or uncommitted status. After preliminaries, w hich are necessary to the operat ion of the convention, the delegates to the county convention will be elected, on the bas i s of percentage support present for each presidential candidate

Party Rules

co nven ti on , wi t h resident addre sses in clu d ing towns shown th er eon.

e.) Election of Delegates and Alternates

1 Apportionment Each precinct conventi on shall elect that number of del ega t es to which it is entitled by law (Art. 13.34 says each p(ecinct shall elect one de l egate for each 25 votes, or major fraction thereof, cast in that precinct for the p~rty's cand idate for governor in the last general election, with each precinct entitled to at least one delegate.)

However, where boundaries of an election precinct within a county have changed since the last general election, the county executive committee shall determine the allocation of delegates to such precinct(s), using any fair and reasonable method. The convention shall elect one alternate for each delegate.

2. Qualifications. The qualifications for delegates and alternates shall be the same as those required for participation in the convention (except that State law provides a person otherwise qualified need not be present at the convention to be elected a delegate.)

(Art. 13.34c)

3. Delegate chairman. The Precinct Convention shall elect a delegate chairman by vote of a majority of those present.

f.) Election Procedure in Presidential Years. It is the duty of the precinct chairman, at the opening of each precinct convention, to establish the temporary roll of eligible participants, As each qualified participant enters his name upon such roll, he shall - in presidential years - incic;.ate his presidential preference or "uncommitted" status.

When it is time in the order of business to elect delegates to the county (or senatorial district) convention, the procedure shall be as follows:

The precinct convention chairman shall announce the number of eligible voting members on the roll and the

Following is an example of the apportionment of delegates at a convention with 20 voters in attendance in a precinct allowed 16 delegates to the county convention: No present for each percentage No. of delegates candidate

After the number of delegates each candidate is to receive has been determined, the voters present for each candidate will break up into caucuses to select delegates to the county convention from among their numbers. In the sample precinct above, the McGovern caucus would choose eight delegates, Humphrey four, and uncommitted four.

The most significant aspect of the convention process is that most of the El Paso precincts are large enough to have a delegate to the state convention, to be selected by the delegation from the precinct to the county convention. This means that any candidate's supporters who have 50 per cent plus one at the precinct convention will choose a delegate to the state convention

By the same token, the El Paso delegation to the state convention will select its delegates to the national convent i on, three in number, by a vote of 50 per cent plus one The candidate whose supporters are well organized in any particular county, can control the delegations to the county convention from the majority of the precinct conventions, can control the entire selection of delegates from the county all the way to the national convention.

The usual small attendance at the precinct conventions make the weight of the vote of one individual at the precinct convention quite influent i al. The student who will organize h i s fri°ends and align himself with other supporters of his candidate in h is precinct w i ll have a si gnifi c ant impact on the select i on of the Democratic presidential nominee.

numbe r of delegates the convention is entitled to elect and the n u mber and per cent of each presidential preference or u nc o mmi tted st atu s.

On the bas is o f such determ inatio n, t hose p referri n g each p resi d en ti al c an di d ate and t ho se who are un commit ted shall caucus to elect the same p roportion of county convention delegates and alternates as their group r epresents in the precinct convention, provided that at least 20 per cent of all the convention participants favor such presidential candidate or are uncommitted.

Persons finding themselves in a group comprising less than 20 per cent of the whole convention shall proceed to thil caucus of their second choice.

Within each caucus any participant may nominate himself or any other participant in that caucus for the pos ition of delegate. Nominations shall be open from the floor of the caucus until a motion is made, seconded, and passed to close nominations.

Each participant may cast a number of votes equal to the number of delegates allocated to such caucus. Those persons receiving the highest number of votes shall be the delegates elected by that caucus.- The same number of nominees next highest in the voting shall be the alternates.

The election of the entire body of deiegates chosen by the represe'1tative caucuses in the manner described above shall then be ratified by majority vote of the precinct convention.

A delegation chairman shall be elected by a majority of all those duly elected to be delegates to the next level convention.

If the convention is entitled to elect only one delegate and one alternate, this shall be accomplished by a simple majority vote of the convention.

If the convention is entitled to more than one delegate, on a motion supported by at least 70 per cent of those on the roll, the convention may decide its procedure shall be to act as a whole in electing all delegates "at large" by majority vote ( i.e., in the traditional manner.)